Although Stardew Valley is a farmer simulator that was released back in 2016, we remembered it because the project has been generating dozens of clone followers for 7 years in a row. And, surprisingly, it still ranks in the top 100 Steam games! Let’s try to find the reason for the popularity of this legend among indie games, and also tell you more about it to all those who have not yet joined. Caution: addictive!
Where did the idea come from?
The life of a simple farmer was popularized by the old Harvest Moon . It was developed by Victor Interactive Software, and the first game dates back to 1996. In Harvest Moon, the player receives an old abandoned farm and engages in farming and animal husbandry there. This process is simple but addictive. The last game was released in 2012, but the series is still popular among loyal fans. It is worth noting the spin-off – Rune Factory , where the player continues to grow crops in a fantasy atmosphere.
Eric Barone, the creator of Stardew Valley, also turned out to be a big fan of Harvest Moon. However, Barone was annoyed that his favorite mechanics were scattered across different games in the series. This motivated the young developer to create a game that combines all the best mechanics from Harvest Moon.
To deepen the player into the daily life of a farmer, the plot and time restrictions that were present with the mastermind were removed. During development, Barone added elements from other games: Animal Crossing , Rune Factory , Minecraft and Terraria . The efforts to create the game of my dreams paid off – Stardew Valley was released in 2016. And fell in love.
What is the game about?
In Stardew Valley, the player is assigned the role of an ordinary office plankton. At one terrible moment, he receives a letter that his grandfather is dying. Having met his ancestor, the main character learns that his grandfather will bequeath to him a farm in Stardew Valley. The protagonist, fed up with working for the soulless Joja corporation, decides to become a farmer.
The granddaughter inherited the farm in a disgusting state – there were stones and snags lying everywhere. Having gotten rid of them, the player receives resources to order new buildings from the carpenter. They will also be needed to improve the blacksmith’s tools – with new tools the hero will be able to finally clear the territory.
This is how the daily life of a farmer begins. Prepare the beds with a hoe, water them and add fertilizer – all you have to do is plant the seeds, and the harvest is ready. Well, after some time, the plants need to grow. It sounds simple, but it is necessary to do this every day – without difficulty, the player will not be able to provide himself with a comfortable life.
The in-game year is divided into four seasons, which last one month. Vegetables and fruits associated with this period grow in spring, summer and autumn. Trees work on a similar principle and will provide your cellars with apples, cherries and oranges. In winter, nothing grows – during this time the player will be able to devote himself to other activities.
Livestock farming will also be added to the list of worries. You will have access to chickens, ducks, rabbits, cows, pigs, goats – they need to be provided with food and affection. The cattle will provide a good owner with high-quality wool, milk, eggs, truffles and rabbit feet. How rabbits find spare paws is still unknown to Stardew Valley scientists.
A controversial way to spend the day is fishing – players either love it or stay away. The caught fish can be cooked or put into the pond. In the final interaction, she learns to speak and demands tribute for the caviar she produces.
Through everyday activities, the hero increases his level. Experienced farmers know how to create devices for processing materials – with them there is no need to sell vegetables and fruits in their pure form. You can create canned food, alcohol, mayonnaise or cheese. For such goodness you can ask for a higher price!
Living commune
An old farm borders a small town where the past meets the future. There are traditional dwellings of a carpenter and a blacksmith, but civilization also makes itself felt – teenagers walk around with modern gadgets.
The Joja supermarket is slowly approaching the city. This is the same corporation from which the main character escaped. Business sharks lure residents with low prices and threaten everyday life. It is up to the player to decide whether to take their side or adhere to traditional values. But this is necessary to advance the plot.
So why is she popular? Followers of the genre
Stardew Valley is an enjoyable and relaxing game. Mind your own business, communicate with people, watch the seasons change. All this will be accompanied by pleasant music and good sound. Since the game has simple pixel graphics, it works even on the most primitive hardware.
Simplicity, convenience, variety of mechanics and atmosphere – these are the elements of Stardew Valley that made the farming life simulator popular again. The players liked Eric Barone’s project so much that they are ready to spend days and nights of real life in a virtual garden. And the mechanics implemented in the game are relevant to this day – dozens of clones prove this almost every year.
Other developers have also appreciated the popularity of the farmer simulator. Even before the release of Stardew Valley, there were significant representatives of the genre, and after that the desire of the developers to add the opportunity to delve into the beds and create a so-called “cozy adventure” only increased:
- In Cult of the Lamb you had to take care of the beds and the cultists. And at the same time clear out dungeons;
- At Dave the Diver you will be given a small garden bed to grow vegetables for the sushi bar;
- Graveyard Keeper allows you not only to take care of graves, but also to organize your own garden;
- More recently, a new representative of the genre has won the hearts of players: My Time at Sandrock. This is a simulator of a novice master who builds machines and collects resources. But there was also a place to take care of the beds!
Analysis
Stardew Valley has simple gameplay that is unremarkable at first glance. But we loved the game for its total attention to detail. Here the player can be anyone: a reclusive farmer, the life of the party, an adventurer. You can fool around with friends – the game has co-op! Once you find something you like, you won’t be able to stop doing it. And new developer patches and the efforts of fan modders still keep the project alive.
The main advantage of the game is that it does not rush the player through activities. At some moments she forces you to stop and enjoy your surroundings. This makes it stand out against the backdrop of grinds that force you to mindlessly collect resources and move further and higher. You can breathe out in Stardew Valley – this is the one and only “cozy adventure”.